COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

In addressing the COVID-19 crisis, the degree to which the coronavirus curve can be flattened in the next 30-90 days, and beyond, is a vital challenge.

As Rotaract Club Of Maseru, we can see the full effects of the coronavirus, and our community is already feeling the impact, especially orphanages here in the country.

Already majority of households in our communities struggle with income without the coronavirus outbreak and the orphanages are no different case, now with the virus outbreak, the struggle is unmeasurable.

Lesotho remains One of the POOREST countries of the WORLD. Although it's one of the few countries with no confirmed cases of the COVID -19, the country is now on day 13th of Lockdown. The effects of Lockdown is more extreme as anticipated, and below we explain the extent of these effects !

1. So far LESOTHO has no reported confirmed cases of the CORONA VIRUS. This is not because we don’t have the VIRUS. It is because we are not being TESTED.

2. The country does not have the capacity to have us tested . And in the face of this, we are on Lockdown as all other countries infected and affected by the COVID-19 to help lower chances of infection since its not really guaranteed as only suspected people were tested and majority of the citizens have not been tested.

The World Bank confirms that Lesotho remains poor with majority of the population living under poverty line ($1) per day, this is therefore very clear that most families cannot afford lockdown and the orphanages are at more critical state as they remain immensely affected by the lockdown. Especially orphanages who rely on donations to get by.

3. With Lesotho on lockdown, the food supply to each household is compromised, and orphanages since didn't not have financial means to go shopping together with some of the lucky few families, to stock up on food supplies and all safety supplies and necessities to use during lockdown for and with their families. The need for food supply to these select few orphanages will continue to escalate especially now with possibility of lockdown extention. And knowing that , some who got monetary donations before lockdown would not have the luxury to choose other needs over food, hence our emphasis on food parcels as the main need.

4. With all this said, our club and our country humbly plea to anyone to assist anyhow they can.

5. Special request to individual donors, non-profit organizations and for profit organisations.

6. All we ask for are the following: Equipment

(a) Nose masks

(b) Sanitizers

(c) Soap

Food / Monetary Donations

(a) To buy grocery for the selected orphanages that are in the most critical state and need help. The essential services are still in operation and those include supermarkets where food parcels can be bought.

Please Donate today and help the two orphanages that we found most vulnerable during the lockdown. So they too can take safety precautions to flatten the curve by avoiding infection.

7. Although we FEAR that by the time this PLEA gets to you and you deciding to assist – The extent to which this orphanages need for FOOD and other above mentioned needs will be alarming. Our hope is that the situation does not get worse.

Lesotho is a small mountainous country in Southern Africa and entirely surrounded by The Republic of South Africa. It has around two million population. And remains one of few countries with no confirmed cases of the COVID -19, though on Lockdown with a possibility of extention.